Railway car



`Ian. 24, l9,3 9. c. HANKINS 2,145,173

RAILWAY QAR Filed Jam. 16, 1936 6 Sheets-sheet 1- Jan. 24, 1939.

C. HANKINS RAILWAY GAR 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Filed Jan. 16, 1936 Jan- 24, 1939- c. HANKlNs RAILWAY CAR Filed Jam-16, 1956 @INV WN 4,

l I I I I T l l l DI www IIIIJI 24, 193.9. v c. HANKINS RAILWAY CAR Filed Jan. 16, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet' 5 I C.A HANKlNs I 2,145,173

l, RAILWAY CAR Filed Jan. 16, v1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 'Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 44 Claims.

My invention relates to railway cars and more particularly to freight cars for transporting in bulk nely divided material, such as cement and the like.

Cars of this character are customarily provided with sliding doors for closing openings through which the finely. divided lading is adapted to discharge by gravity. The sliding of these doors to open position to permit the lading to discharge is usually accomplished only after considerable difculty. This is evidently due to the fact that although the nely divided lading when first loaded onto the car is comparatively loose, the vibrations set up in the car vduring its passage along the rails cause the lading to rapidly settle and become very compact, thus increasing the adhesion between the lading and doors. I have found that considerably less effort is required to eiTect opening movement of the doors if they are permitted to move away from the plane of the lading discharge opening before being slid to open position.

The principal object of my invention is, therefore, to provide means enabling the doors to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening.

A primary feature of the invention consists in providing means for supporting the sliding door in an elevated position when the latter is closed, the means being movable relatively to the door to enable the latter to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening and the door being slidable relatively to the means to open position.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing means affording a support along which the door is slidable to open position, the support being capable of'maintaining the door in an elevated position when the door is closed and being movable relatively to the door to permit the latter to move away from the plane of the lading discharge opening.

A further feature of the invention resides in providing rotatable means capable of raising the sliding door toward the plane of the lading discharge opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed.

A still further feature of the invention consists in providing sliding means adapted to wedge the door upwardly to cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed.

Still another feature of the invention consists in providing elongated members adjacent the side edges of the sliding door for raising the door so tions and relations of parts, will hereinafter ap- (Cl. 10S-282) as to cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed.

Other and more specific features of the invention, residing in advantageous forms, combinapear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention,

Figure lis a fragmentary side elevational View of the lower end of a hopper of a railway car il- 10,

lustrating the door mechanism.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1, a portion of the hood housing the projecting end of the sliding door being broken away. 15

. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line 3 3 of Figure 2, the parts of the mechanism being shown in the positions they respectively occupy after' the door has moved away from the plane of the lading dis- 20 charge opening and is ready to be withdrawn into open position.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line 4 4 of Figure 2, the door and adjacent parts of the mechanism being 25 shown in the positions they respectively occupy after the door has moved away from-the plane of the lading discharge opening.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the door mechanism, the hood being shown in its elevated position.

Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged transverse vertical sectional views adjacent one edge of the door, Figure 'l showing the door in its raised position and Figure `8 showing the door in its lowered position.

Figure 9 is a front view of one of the levers for operating the door elevating mechanism, an adjacent portion of the door being also shown.

Figure 10 is a top view of the lever and the member operated thereby, a portion of the door being shown in dot and dash lines. 45

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of a hopper illustrating a modified form of mechanism for supporting the door in an elevated position.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing the various positions occupied by diierent parts of the mechanism after the latter have been operated to permit the door to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening` f 55 Figure 13 is a detail sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line I3-I3 of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the front end of the lower portion of the door frame and associated parts.

Figure 15 is a plan View of the lower portion of the door frame and associated parts, a fragment of the door being shown in the upper right hand corner of the figure.

Figure 16 is a front view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a plan view of the principal element of the door raising mechanism.

Figure 18 is a side View of the forward portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a plan view of the forward end of the lower portion of the door f rame.

Figure 20 is a plan view of the lever means for operating the door raising means. A

Figure 21 is a perspective view of one element of the lever means shown in Figure 20.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 to 10, inclusive, I indicates one of the hoppers of a railway car conveniently formed by a plurality of sheets 2 to the lower end of which is secured .a door frame 3 provided with an opening through which lading within the car'is discharged by gravity. The door frame which is of susbtantially rectangular shape to conform with the discharge end of the hopper may be advantageously formed in two cast sections', an upper section 4 and a lower section 5. Y

The upper section 4 of the door frame is formed with a plurality of walls 6, "I, 8 and S for attachment by any suitable means to the lower ends of the' hopper sheets. 'As the portions of the hopper sheets to which walls 6 and I are secured are vertical, they also are vertical, but as the portions of the hopper sheets to which the walls 8 and 9 are attached are inclined, the upper portions of the last named walls are likewise in*- clined. The lower ends of the walls l, 8 and 9 terminate in laterally projecting flanges I to which the lower section of the door Vframe is secured. Extending outwardly from the lower end of wall 6 is a substantially horizontal plate portion I I integrally connecting adjacent portions of the flanges Ill.

The lower section 5 of the door frame is provided along its sides and inner end with an outwardly projecting flange I2for attachment to flange I0 and it is additionally formed along its sides with downwardly spaced inwardly projecting flange I3 which, together with adjacent portions of the flanges I U of the upper section, dene grooves for receiving the sides of a sliding door Ill employed for closing the lading discharge opening. The inner end of section 5 of the frame is also formed with an inwardly projecting ange I5 disposed in a plane below the flanges I3 which, together with a similar flange I6 formed along one of the sides, constitutes convenient means for receiving an outwardly projecting flange I'I of a boot or the like I8, shown in dotted lines in Figures 3 and 4, for receiving the lading as it discharges from the hopper. At their forward ends, the sides of the lower section f the frame are integrally connected by a transversely extending plate-like member I9 which may be conveniently i'gidied by downwardly extending marginal flanges 20.

, To facilitate driving rivets connecting the n flanges II) and I2 along the sides of the frame where the walls 'of the frame incline outwardly and overhang the flanges, portions of the walls are preferably cut away to receive a riveting or bucking tool. Thus flange 8 is formed in sections spaced suiciently far apart to receive a suitable tool and the ends of each section are connected to the flange ID by substantially vertical webs 8a.

When the door I4 is in closed position, the forward end thereof projects outwardly beyond the frame and it may be advantageously formed with an opening or the like 2| whereby it may be easily engaged by a tool or the hand of an operator for movement to and from open position. The opening in the door may be conveniently defined by a reinforcing plate or the like 22 secured in overlapping relation to the forwardly projecting end of the door and having a down-turned flange 23 bounding the opening.

Interpos'ed between the flanges I3 of the door frame and adjacent portions of the door are elongated rotatable members 24 in the form of shafts or rods, each of which has a circular surface and a flat surface. At their inner ends, the elongated members are journaled in bearings 25 formed in the frame and, at spaced intervals between their ends, they are supported by lugs or the like 26 which project upwardly from the flanges I3. These members are of such size and shape that, when they are rotated to bring their curved surfaces in engagement with the under side of the door, as shown in Figure 7, the latter is supported in an elevated position, and when they are rotated so as to dispose their flat surfaces in position to be engaged by the door, the latter is permitted to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening.

To provide convenient means whereby the members 24 may be easily rotated, the forward end of each is provided with a lever 27. Each of these levers is formed with an elongated hub portion 28 and a handle portion 29. The hub portion of each lever is formed with a recess for receiving the forward end of the associated elongated member and intermediate its ends the recess is enlarged as indicated at 30 (see Figure 10), for receiving welding material whereby the lever and the elongated member may be rigidly united. Each of the levers is preferably formed as a unitary casting and may be suitbly reinforced by marginal flanges 3| and 32. The elongated members are effectively prevented from longitudinal movement by the hub portions of the levers and by suitable washers or nuts 33 which may be conveniently secured, as by welding, to the extreme inner ends of the members.

The levers and elongated members are so related that, when the door is supported in its elevated position, the levers will be disposed in substantially horizontal planes just above the door, and when they are rotated in opposite directions through an arc of 90 into substantially upright positions, the flat surfaces of the members will be uppermost so that the door is free to move downwardly from its elevated position. To prevent the levers from being moved more than is necessary to bring the flat surfaces of the elongated members uppermost, each is formed with a rearwardly projecting lug d6 which is adapted to engage an adjacent portion of the door frame, such as a lug d?, which extends upwardly from a part of the frame for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The outer ends of the levers are formed with slots 34 for receiving a suitable car seal to prevent their unauthorized operation and inwardly of the slots each may be advantageously formed with upright positions.

a forwardly extending lug or projection for cooperating with suitable means (not shown) for prying or forcing the levers upwardly.

Pivotally mounted on the door frame is a hood or the like 36 for housing the projecting end of the door and operating levers 21. The hood projects beyond the door frame and is formed with substantially vertical side walls 31 which, adja-V cent the forward end of the hood, extend downwardly below the door suiciently to prevent water and the like from passing into the hopper between the frame and the forward portion of the door. The hood is also provided with a front wall 38 which is adapted to extend downwardly in advance of the front edge of the door. At its rear, the hood is formed with an end Wall 39 which, together with adjacent portions of the side walls 31, is adapted to overlap the outer face of flanges 40 projecting upwardly from the forward end of the plate portion I I of the frame.

Extending rearwardly from the hood are lugs 4I for receiving a rod 42 whereby the hood is pivotally mounted, the rod being supported in brackets 43 formed integrally with the front wall 6 of the frame and the plate portion I I. Adjacent the point of intersection of the wall 5 and the plate II, the brackets 43 are apertured, as at 44, so that water and the like collecting on the upper surface of the plate may readily drain therefrom.

While any suitable means may be employed for supporting the hood in an elevated position dur-` ing movement of the door toward and from closed position, the operating levers 21 may be utilized to accomplish this result. To this end, the side walls of the hood are formed inwardly of their outer ends with outwardly projecting lugs 45 which are adapted, as shown in Figure 3, to engage the levers when the latter are disposed in As clearly seen in Figure 3, when the lugs 45 engage the levers, a portion of the hood is disposed between the levers so .that they are 'prevented from moving toward each other and thus out of engagement with the lugs. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the levers are prevented from moving outwardly with respect to each other free of lugs 45 by engagement of the lugs 46 of the levers with adjacent portions of the door frame.

Figures 1 and 2 show parts of the mechanism in the positions they respectively occupy, when the door is in its closed elevated position. To prevent the hood 36 from being raised either accidentally or by an unauthorized person, it may be advantageously formed on each side with a pair of laterally projecting lugs 48 for cooperating with the adjacent lug 46 on the frame, all of the lugs being formed with suitable slots 4S for receiving car seals (not shown) of customary form. As access can only be had to the operating levers 21 by lifting the hood and as the front wall of the hood is normally disposed in the path of movement of the door, it is evident that neither the levers nor the door can be actuated untilthe car seals are broken and the hood raised. v

When it is desired to open the door to permit discharge of lading from the car, the seals pre venting movement of the hood are first brokenv and then the hood is moved into an elevated position. The operating levers 21 may then be rotated in opposite directions until the rearwardly eX-Y tending lugs 46 thereof engage the lugs 41 on the door frame. When the levers are in this position, the hood may swing slightly in a closing-directionv `until the lugs 45 thereof engage the levers.`

When the parts have assumed these positions not only is the hood prevented from moving to a closed position but the levers are also prevented from being moved toward each other.

During rotation of the levers into their upright positions, the curved surfaces of the elongatedY members 24 move from engagement with the door until finally the flat surfaces of the members are disposed in planes parallel with the plane `of the door, at which time the door is free to drop away from the plane of the lading discharge opening into engagement with the i'lat surfaces. The door is then in position to be easily withdrawn to open position and it will be observed that the elongated members 24 afford runways on which the door is slidable. When the door is in fully open position, it will, due to its weight, assume the canted position shown in dot and -dash lines in Figure 3. In this position, the inner edge of the door engages the underside of the front wall 6 of the frame and the depending strip Illa secured to the under side of the door inwardly of its inner edge. engages the inner edge of the plate I9. It will be appreciated therefore, that the door, when in open position, closes the space between plate portions II and I9 of the frame and thus prevents finely divided lading, such as cement, from puffing or blowing out through this space.

In the closing operation of the door, the procedure described above is reversed. That is to say, the door is lirst slid along the elongated members to closed position, the hood is moved rearwardly slightly to enable the levers to be rotated downwardly into the positions shown in Figure 6, after which the hood is permitted to also rotate downwardly into the position shown in Figures l and 2. When the levers are disposed in their horizontal positions, as shown in Figure 6, portions of the hubs of the levers, indicated at 50, are disposed in the path of opening movement of the door so that movement of the door toward open position is positively prevented until the levers have been operated in the intended manner. As may be seen in Figure 6, the hub portions 50 of the levers overlap the forward edge of the door adjacent the side edges threof and, at these points, the forward edge is preferably inclined, as indicated at 5I, so that, in the event the door is not pushed entirely closed, the portions 5I) of the hubs will cooperatertherewith in a wedging manner to force the door into fully closed position.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 11 to 21, inclusive, the mechanism for raising the door into an elevated position is slidab-le relatively to the frame instead of being rotatable.

Y The door frame illustrated in this form of the invention is, like the frame illustrated in Figures 1 to 10, inclusive, preferably formed in upper and lower cast metal sections 52 and 53, respectively, and it is similar in many respects to the door frame illustrated in my copending application Y Serial No. 703,811, led December 23, 1933.

wardly from the elongated members 56 are a plurality of lugs 51, each of which has inclined downwardly converging sides and a substantially horizontal bottom face and projecting upwardlyY from the flanges of the door frame are a plurality of similar lugs 53. When, as shown in `Figure 1l, the bottom faces of lugs 51 Yare in enV lapping the side edges of the door.

gagement with the upper faces of lugs 58, the sliding door is supported in an elevated position. When, however, as shown in Figure 12, the lugs are moved from engagement with each other, the elongated members move downwardly until the upper surfaces of the lugs 518 engage portions of the elongated members intermediate the lugs 5T. Downward movement of the elongated members permits corresponding movement of the door as the latter receives its support from the elongated members'.

To enable the elongated members to be operated simultaneously, they are formed at their forward ends with inwardly projecting triangularly shaped brackets or the like 59 rigidly secured to a transe versely extending plate-like member 60. It will thus be seen that the elongated members and the connecting member 60 define a rigid yoke-like or U-shaped structure on which the door is slidable and, in order to prevent the door from shifting laterally thereof and thus fail to be guided during movement to and from closed position, the elongated members are formed along their outer side edges with upwardly extending ribs 6| over- Although the inner ends of the elongated members are not connected, they are prevented from moving inwardly toward each other by lugs 62 which may be conveniently formed integrally with anges of the door frame and project upwardly therefrom in overlapping relation with the inner faces of the elongated members.

While suitable removable means may be employed for actuating the elongated wedging mem- V bers 56, means is preferably incorporated in the structure for this purpose. This means comprises a lever 64 which may be advantageously formed in two sections, an inner section 55 and an outer section 66. The inner section, which may be formed as a casting, is provided at one end, preferably integrally, with a downwardly projecting pivot boss 61 which extends into a suitable aperture 68 formed in a bracket 63 disposed at one of the forward corners of the lower section 53 of the door frame. The opposite end of section 65 of the lever is of substantially box-shape in cross section having top and bottom walls 69 and 1U, respectively, and side walls 1l.

The inner end of outer section 66 of the lever extends into the box-like portion of the inner section of the lever and the sections are connected to each other by a bolt or the like 12, which also serves as means pivotally connecting'the lever to `the member which joins the elongated members, the portion of the member 68 through which the bolt extends being in the form of a forwardly projecting centrally disposed bracket 13. As the interior of the box-like portion of the inner section of the lever is of approximately the same size and shape as the inner end of the outer section of the lever, being only sufciently large to permit the outer section to be inserted therein, the sections form a substantially rigid unit when connected by the bolt 12.

The outer end of the lever preferably projects beneath the frame to one side thereof so that it may be easily grasped by an operatorrand, in order to prevent the outer end from sagging 'downwardly while the car is in transit, the frame is formed with a bracket or ledge 14 which is adapted to underlie the lever after the latter has been operated to move the elongated members guide the lever into proper engagement therewith.

Toprevent movement of the elongated members a distance greater than that necessary to accomplish their intended purpose, they are formed adjacent their forward ends with depending portions 16 affording shoulders 'l1 which are adapted to engage lugs 18 projecting upwardly from the forward ends of flanges 55 of the door frame to arrest forward movement of the elongated members. The shoulders 11 are so related with respect to the lugs 18 that they will not engage the latter until after the elongated members have moved downwardly the maximum permissible distance. The extreme outer ends of the elongated members are formed, as indicated at 19, so that, when they have been shifted rearwardly to wedge the door upwardly, they will rest upon the upper surfaces of lugs 18 of the frame. Rearward movement of the elongated members is arrested by the inner edge of connecting member 6D, which may besuitably reinforced by a flange 80, coming in contact with a flange 8| projecting upwardly from the inner edge of a plate-like member 82, which connects the sides of the lower section of the frame adjacent the forward portion thereof.

Pivotally mounted upon the door frame in a lateral extension 83 thereof within which the forward portion of the door is disposed when closed, is a member 84 for cooperating with the door and the door wedging means to prevent movement thereof. This locking member may be of the same character as the door locking member illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 703,811, led December 23, 1933, and it is adapted to extend within an aperture 85 in the door and an aperture 86 within the connecting member 68. It may also function as shown in Figure 12 to maintain in an elevated position the hood 81 which is employed to house the forwardly projecting portion of the door, when the latter is closed.v

The position of the various parts of the mechanism, when the door is in closed elevated position, is shown in Figure 11. To move the door toward open position, it is first necessary to raise the hood, after which the locking member 84 may be rotated out of cooperation with the door and into engagement with the hood to support the latter in elevated position. With the hood and locking member in these positions, the lever E4 may then be operated to slide the elongated members relatively to the frame and door to cause them to assume the positions illustrated in Figure 12. As the elongated members move downwardly, the door which is supported thereby will also move downwardly and occupy the position shown in Figure 12. When in this position, the door may, of course, be easily withdrawn, sliding along the upper edges of the elongated members until it is arrested by the depending strip 83 at the inner edge of the door engaging the inner face of the upwardly projecting flange 8 I. To facilitate sliding of the door, its forward end is provided with an apertured member S-l which may be conveniently grasped by the operator. To insure downward movement of the elongated members after the lugs 5l thereof have passed from engagement with the lugs 58, the lower section of the frame may be formed with inwardly projecting downwardly inclined fianges or the like 89 and the elongated members may be formed with outwardly projecting downwardly inclined flanges 90. These anges are so disposed that, if for any reason the elongated members do not move downwardly when they are pulled outwardly with respect to the frame, they will engage one another and thus force the elongated members downwardly. g

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that simple and reliable means are provided for permitting movement of the door away `from the lading discharge opening, so that the door may be easily slid to open position. Moreover, it will be appreciated that, since the mechanism is designed to force the door upwardly toward the plane of the lading discharge opening, it is possible to eliminate cracks or spaces between the door and frame through which the iinely divided lading may accidentally escape.

What I claim is:

1. A railway car having a floor provided with a lading discharge opening, a sliding door for closing said opening, and means for raising said door to cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed, said means being movable relatively to the door so as to enable the latter to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening and said door being slidable relatively to said means to open position.

2. A railway car having a floor provided with a lading discharge opening, a sliding door for closing said opening, and means affording amsupport along which the door is slidable to open position, said means being movable with respect to the door to move the door upwardly and cause it to occupy an elevated position .When closed and being also movable to enable the doorto move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening.

3. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a substantially horizontally sliding door for closing said opening, and means for raising said door and supporting it in an elevated position when closed, said means being movable so as to enable the door to drop by gravity away from the lading discharge opening and said door being slidable relatively to said means to open position. Y

4. A railway car having a oor provided with a lading discharge opening, a door frame rigid with the floor, a sliding door mounted on the frame for closing the lading discharge opening, and means carried by the frame for moving the door upwardly and for supporting it in an elevated position when closed, said means being movable so as to enable the door to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening and said door being slidable relatively to said means to open position.

5. A railway car having a floor provided with a lading discharge opening, a door frame rigid with the floor, a sliding door mounted on the frame for'closing the lading discharge opening, and movable means carried by the frame along which the door is slidable to open position, said means being adapted to raise the door to cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed and being movable relatively to the door to render the latter free to move downwardlyaway from the plane of the lading discharge opening prior to being moved to open position.

6. A railway car having a oor provided with a lading discharge opening, a sliding door for closing the opening, and means movable relatively to the door for moving the latter upwardly to cause it to occupy anelevated position when closed, said means being also movable to enable the door to move downwardly awayfrom the plane of the lading discharge opening priorto movement of the door to open position and in-` cluding a plurality of elongated members aording a support along which the door is slidable to open position.

7. A railway carhaving a floor provided with a lading discharge opening, a sliding ldoor for closing the opening, and means including elongated members engageable with the underside of the door adjacent the side edges thereof for moving the door upwardly to cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed, said members being movable relatively to the door so as to enable the latter to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening prior to movement thereof to open position and said door being slidable relatively to said members to open position.

' 8. A railway car having a floor provided with a lading discharge opening, a door frame rigid with the floor, a slidable door mounted on the frame ior closing said opening, and rotatable means journaledA in the frame for moving the door upwardly to cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed, said means being rotatable to enable the door to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening and said door `being slidable relatively to said means to open position. Y

9. A railway car having a floor provided with a lading discharge opening, a sliding door for closing the opening, and rotatable cam means for moving the door upwardly to vcause it to occupy an elevated position when closed, said means being rotatable relatively to the door so as to enable the latter to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening before movement of the door to o pen position and said doorbeing movable relatively to said means to open position.

10. A railway car having a iioor provided with a lading discharge opening, a sliding door for closing the'opening, and means affording a support` along which the doorvis slidable to open position, said means being rotatable to raise the door toward the plane of the lading discharge opening to cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed.

11. A railway car having a floor provided with aY lading discharge opening, a door frame rigid with the iioor, a door slidably mounted on the ,frame for closing said opening, and members carried by the frame respectively adjacent the side edges of the door, said members being rotatable to move the door upwardly to cause it to occupy an elevated vposition when closed and being alsorotatable to enable the door to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening preparatory to being slid to open position.

. 12. A railway car havinga iioor provided with adoor'frame dening a lading discharge open# ing, aV sliding door mounted on the frame for closing said opening, and rotatable rod-like members carried by the frame respectively adjacent the side edges of the door, each of said members having a cam surface engageable with the underside ofthe door for raising the doorv toward the plane of the lading discharge opening to causeA the door to occupy an elevated position when closed. Y

13. A railway car havinga floor provided with a door frame dening a lading discharge opening, a sliding door mounted on the framerfor closing said opening, and ,rotatablel rod-like memberscarried by the frame respectively` adjacent the sideedges 'of the door, saidmembers affording runways'r on which the door is slidable to open position and being adapted toV raisev the door toward the plane of the lading discharge opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed'.

14. A railway car having a floor provided with a lading discharge opening, a door frame rigid withv the oor, a sliding door mounted on the frame for closing said opening, rotatable means journaled in the frame for moving the door upwardly to cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed', said means being rotatable to enable thev door to move downwardly away from the plane ofthe lading discharge opening and said door being slidable relatively'to said means to open position, and lever means for rotating saidrotatable means.

15'. A railway car having a floor provided with a lading discharge opening, a door frame rigid with the floor, a sliding door mounted on the frame for closing said opening, elongated rotatablefmembers carried by the frame respectively adjacent theside edges of the door for moving the door upwardly to cause it toI occupy an elevated position when closed, said elongated members being rotatable tol enable the door to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening, 'and levers for respectively rotating said elongated members.

16. A railway car having a floor provided with a lading discharge opening, a door frame rigid with the floor, a sliding door mounted on the frame for closing said opening, and rotatable elongated members carried by the frame respectively adjacent the side edges of the door for moving the door upwardly to cause it to occupy an elevated position when` closed, said members being rotatable toenable the door to move downwardly awayfrom the 'plane of the lading discharge opening, each of said members having a portion cooperable with the, door when the latter is supportedin said elevated position for preventing movement of the door'toward open position. 17. A railway car having a oor provided with a lading 'discharge opening, a door frame rigid with the iioor, a slidingy door mounted on the frame for closing said opening', rotatable members lcarried by the frame respectively adjacent the side edges of the door 'adapted to support the door in an elevated position when the latter is closed, and levers for respectively' rotating said members, said levers having portions cooperable with the door when the latter is in said elevated position for preventing movement of the door to open position.

y 18. A railway car having Ya hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, 4a sliding door for closing said opening, said door when in closed position having a portion projecting laterally beyond ,an adjacent side of. the hopper, movable means formoving the door upwardly to cause it to occupy an elevated positionk when closed, said means being movable relatively'to the door for enabling the latter to move downwardly away from the plane of Vfthe lading discharge opening, lever means for operating lsaid movable means, said lever means overlying said projecting por--r tion of the door when the door is in its closed Y elevated position, and a hood pivotally associated, with theY hopper for housing the projecting portion of the door and said lever means.

19. A railway carrhaving a hopperprovided yond4 an adjacentl side of the hopper, meansfor moving the door upwardly to cause it tov occupy an elevated position when closed, said means being movable relatively to the door for enabling the latter to move downwardly away from the plane of the lading discharge opening, lever means for actuating said movable means, andl a hood pivotally associated with the hopper for housing said projecting portion of the door, said hood being movable into a raised position and said lever means being adapted to maintain the hood in said raised position after'being actuated to permit the door to move downwardly.

20. A railway car having a hopper provided with allading discharge opening, a door frame rigid withk the hopper, a sliding door mounted on said frame for closing said opening, said frame having anges disposed beneath the door adjacent the side edges thereof, andv rotatable means operatively interposed between each of said flanges and the door for moving the door upwardly to cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed, said means being rotatable to enable the door to move downwardly away from the lading discharge opening and said door being slidable relatively to said means to open position.

21.- A railway car having a floor provided with a lading discharge opening, a sliding door for closing the opening, and means slidableV bodily with respect to the door and engageable therewith for wedging the door upwardly toward the plane of the lading discharge opening and thereby cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed.

22. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame member dening a lading discharge opening, a door member slidably mounted on said frame for closing the opening, and means operatively interposed between said members and slidable bodily relatively thereto, said means having we'dging cooperation with one of said members for raising the door member toward the plane of the lading discharge opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed. Y

23; A railway car having a iioor provided with a'door frame defining a lading discharge opening, a sliding door mounted on the frame for closings'aid opening, and means slidable bodily with respect to the door and frame and having Wedging cooperation with the latter for raising the door toward the plane of the lading discharge opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed. y

24. A railway car having a loor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening, a sliding door mounted on the frame for closing said opening, and means slidable bodily with vrespect to the door and having wedging cooperation with the `frame to raise the door toward the plane of the lading discharge opening and thereby cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed, l v r 25. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame defining Va lading discharge'opening, a door slidably mounted `on the frame for closing said opening, and means carried by the frame "aifo'rdinga 4support on which the door is slidable toand from closed position, said means being slidable with respect to the frame 'and being vcoor'leralole therewith for'raising the door toward vthe plane of the lading discharge opening caf the door 'to occupy an elevated position when closed.

26. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame dening a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, and means carried by the frame affording a support onwhich the door is slidable to and from closed position, said means having limited sliding movement with respect to the frame and being provided with portions having wedging engagement with the frame whereby said means is adapted to raise the door toward the plane of. the lading discharge opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed.

27. A railway car having a oor provided with a door frame dening a lading discharge opening, a door slidablymounted on the frame for closing said opening, and elongated members slidably interposed between the door and frame adjacent the side edges of the door, said members being slidable bodily with respect to the door and having wedging cooperation with the frame for raising the door toward the plane of the lading discharge opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed.

28. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, and means slidable rela-- tively to the frame and having wedging cooperation therewith for raising the door toward the plane of said opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed, said means afording a support on which the door is slidable including two rigidly connected members eXtending in the direction of sliding movement'of the door and respectively disposed adjacent the side edges oi the door.

29. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, and means movably interposed between the door and frame for raising the door toward the plane of said opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed, said means including a plurality of elongated members respectively disposed adjacent the side edges of the door and a member rigidly vconnecting said elongated members adjacent their forward ends, said elongated members being slidable bodily with respect to the door and constituting wedging means cooperable with the frame for forcing the door upwardly into said elevated position.

30. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, wedging means slidable relatively to and cooperable with the frame for raising the door toward the plane of. said opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed, and a pivoted lever for actuating said wedging means, the pivotal axis of the lever being substantially normal to the plane of the closed door.

3l. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, wedging means slidable re1- atively to the door and cooperable withfthe frame for raising it toward the plane of said opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed, and lever means for actuating said wedging means.

32. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame dening a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on theframe for closing said opening, wedging means slidable relatively to and cooperable with the frame for raisingrthe door toward theplane of said opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed, and lever means extending substantially transverse of the direction'of. movement of the door and pivotally mounted on the frame for actuating said wedging means. Y

33. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the frame i'or closing said opening, wedging means slidable re1- atively to and cooperable with the frame for raising the door toward the plane' of said opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed, and lever `means extending substantially transverse of the direction of movement of the door, said lever means being fulcrumed on the frame and pivotally connected to said wedging means for actuating the latter.

34. The railway car having a floor provided` with a door frame dening a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, means operatively interposed between the door and Vframe and slidable bodily with respect thereto for wedging the Y door upwardly toward the plane of said opening to cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed, said means including a plurality of elongated members respectively disposed adjacent the side edges of the door and a member rigidly coning to cause the door to occupy an elevated -position when closed, pivoted means movably connecting said wedging means and frame, and means engageable with said pivoted means for actuating said wedging means.

36.'A` lrailway car having a floor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, wedging means slidable bodily with respect to the door and frame and cooperable with the latter for raising the door toward the plane of said opening to cause it to occupy an elevated position when closed, and means including a pivoted lever for actuating said wedging means, said lever being operable in a plane substantially parallel with the door and having a portion projecting laterally of said frame.

37. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, means slidable relatively to the frame for wedging the door upwardly toward the plane of said opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed, and means including a pivoted lever for actuating said wedging means, said lever being operable in a substantially horizontal plane and said frame having a portion adapted to supportingly engage the underside of said lever to one side of its pivot.

38. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame dening a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, means interposed ybetween and slidable relatively to the door and frame for raising the door toward the plane of said opening to cause'the door to occupy an elevated position when closed, said means having upwardly projecting portions respectively overlapping the side edges of the door.

39. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opene ing, a door slidably mounted on .the frame for closing said opening, said frame having flanges disposed beneath the door adjacent the side edges thereof, means interposed between said flanges and the door for Wedging the door upwardly toward the plane of said opening tol cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed, said means including elongated members respectively slidably mounted on the flanges of the frame, and means rigid with said flanges respectively overlapping vthe outer faces of said elongated member.

40. A railway carhaving a fioor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, means slidable relatively to the door and frame for Wedging the door up- Wardly toward the plane of said opening to vcause the door to occupy an elevated position ywhen closed, and means cooperable with said door and Wedging means to lock the door in its elevated closed position.

41. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame dening a lading discharge opening, a door slidably mounted on the vframe for closing said opening, means slidable relatively to the door and frame for Wedging the door upwardly toward the plane of said opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed, said means having a portion .underlying the door adjacent the forward end thereof, and means cooperable with said door and said portion of-the we dgng means to lock the door in its elevated ,closed position.

42. A railway car having a floor Aprovided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening,a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, wedging means slidable relatively to the door and frame and cooperable with the latter for raising the door toward the plane of said opening to cause the door to'occupy an elevatedposition when closed, and a member movably mounted on the frame and cooperable with said means for locking the latter in posi,- tion to maintain the door in said elevated position.

43. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening, a door'slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, said frame having flanges disposed beneath the door adjacent the side edges thereof, the upper surfaces of said anges being provided with inclined faces, and means supported by and disposed in overlapping relation with the upper surfaces of said flanges, said means having portions engageable with said inclined faces for raising the door toward the plane of the lading discharge opening to cause the door to occupy an elevated position when closed.

44. A railway car having a floor provided with a door frame defining a lading discharge opening, `a door slidably mounted on the frame for closing said opening, vsaid frame having flanges disposed beneath the door adjacent the side edges thereof, `and means supported by and .dis-V CYRUS HANKIKNS. 

